This is the verse that came to my mind several times this morning as I was beginning to reflect on what Jesus Christ did for me. As a family, we listened to several songs befitting Good Friday as we ate breakfast and thankfulness just washed over me as I pondered again God's amazing grace!
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That he should give His only Son.
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar The Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory!
Hallelujah!
I have been trying to decide how to write tonight's blog, and I keep thinking about Jesus Christ as the sacrificial Lamb, and how since the fall of man back in Genesis, God's plan for the redemption of mankind was set into motion. Of course, He knew this plan before the creation of the world!
I guess I just want to reiterate to everyone, including myself, that the entire Bible is really all about Jesus Christ. There is so much in the Old Testament that is a rich foreshadowing of God's plan for the ages! The sad part is, many Christians don't know about them because we don't read the first 5 books of the Bible with much intensity and meditation. I remember as a teenager and college student trying to read the Bible in a year. Several January's began with a bang and by the time I reached Leviticus, I gave up!! Can anyone else relate? But contained in the latter part of Exodus and all of Leviticus are some crucially important things that all of us who are believers in Christ should know! All of the Feasts that God ordained and established for the Israelites in Exodus and Leviticus points to Christ.
The Passover Feast was not meant to solely be a remembrance of God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. It was meant to be a picture of the pure, spotless lamb whose blood delivers us from our bondage of sin. Every aspect and detail of the Old Testament Tabernacle (from the colors used to the Ark of the Covenant itself) is symbolic of Jesus Christ. Even the role of the high priest was to foreshadow Christ's work on our behalf.
Its like God was painting a very clear picture of what saving faith in the blood of Christ was supposed to mean. I've heard people say that the Old Testament is all about the Law and the New Testament is about faith. I think this statement is not Biblical. I believe that from first to last salvation has always been by grace through faith in the blood, even for the Israelites who were under the Old Covenant. The writer of Hebrews goes to great lengths to make this point. Just read Hebrews Chapters 1-10, and you will see how all of the sacrifices of the OT were made through faith, but only THE sacrifice of the God-man Jesus paid the debt of sin once and for all--and it had to be done through sacrifice. In God's economy: "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Hebrews 9:22. Out of God's grace, he set up a sacrificial system whereby if an Israelite came by faith to offer a sacrifice at the tabernacle altar, the blood of that sacrifice (usually the best, purest, male animal of a herd or flock) would cover or atone for his/her sin. The penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23). So, something had to die--the life blood poured out---in order to receive forgiveness.
Did you know that a person had to lay their hands on their own lamb/bull, etc. while the high priest pronounced that the sin was laid upon the animal. It was as though the animal, in God's sight, took on that person's sin. All of this was to show the Jewish people that God is a God of grace and redemption.
I have been disheartened at hearing that many churches and pastors are negating or making little of faith in the shed blood of Christ. God does not change. His plan of redemption has never changed. Because it was humans that sinned (Adam and Eve at first), a human had to pay the death penalty. But, no human, since Adam and Eve has been sinless---accept Jesus Christ. He knew no sin, even though he was tempted in every way, just as we are (Hebrews 4:15). Therefore, he is the only one worthy--the only sinless Lamb of God. And, Jesus went to the cross willingly! He loves us so much.
That is why we can say, "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!" Though we remember Christ's suffering and agony today, please also remember that without this day, we would all be dead in our sins with no hope of eternal life with God.
Saving faith...in the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
"Behold the man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulders,
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was MY sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished.
His dying breath
Has brought me life
I know that it is finished!"
Hebrews 2:9-3:1
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and “I will declare your name to my brothers;in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says,“Here am I, and the children God has given me.” Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. "
No comments:
Post a Comment